Chinese Medicine is a wholistic treatment. We will take an extensive case history, covering every aspect of your health, diet and lifestyle before making a diagnosis. This may include asking seemingly unrelated questions about such things as your response to changes in the weather, your menstrual cycle even if the condition you are attending for is not related to your cycle. Your answers will help identify patterns of disharmony which will allow your practitioner to make a more accurate diagnosis. Your practitioner will also take your pulse on both wrists and may ask to look at your tongue as both provide valuable information about your constitution and presenting condition.

After making a diagnosis your practitioner will decide the appropriate treatment. This may be acupuncture or Chinese herbs separately or in combination or may include the use of moxibustion, or gua sha. Your practitioner may also make recommendations regarding your diet and lifestyle.

A typical treatment will involve the insertion of 8-10 acupuncture needles into points which may be selected either close to the affected area or as far away from it as possible. The needles must stay in place for approximately 20-25 minutes, during which time most people drift into a state of deep relaxation or may even go to sleep.

This depends on each person and each condition. The treatment can be as frequent as 2-3 times a week on alternative days or everyday depending on your condition. However, generally, it should be at least once a week for a course of at least 8 treatments.

Treatments for ACC injuries are covered for 12 treatments over 12 weeks from the first appointment you have with your acupuncturist. It is your responsibility to keep up with regular treatments within the covered period of 12 weeks since your first treatment with us.

1. Eat before your appointment: Make sure you have had something to eat at least 20-30min before the treatment and are not too hungry, too tired to prevent needle fainting. If you experience nausea, sweating, and chills during the treatment you should tell your practitioner immediately.
   
   However, it is better to avoid drinking coffee or eating a large meal immediately prior to acupuncture but don’t arrive at the clinic feeling really hungry, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
   
   Cigarettes, caffeine or recreational drugs will make it more difficult for your practitioner to accurately diagnose your condition.

2. Wear comfortable clothing: Bring along with you or wear loose comfortable clothing to allow easy exposure of body areas needed for needling. Most of the commonly used acupuncture points are on the lower arms and legs, back and abdomen, so pants that are loose enough to roll up above the knee will be helpful.

3. Turn off your phone: Please turn your phone off on silent during the treatment so you can clear your mind and relax.

During the treatment, you would be expecting to feel needle sensations as very fine needles are inserted into acupressure (energy) points along the meridians (energy pathway or channels) of the body. The needles sensation can vary for each individual, it may be a dull ache, heavy throbbing sensation, or a tingling sensation. Different points can feel different.

Do’s:

• Keep covered to avoid cold or wind entering the body.

• Drink warm water and stay hydrated after treatment

Dont’s:

• To avoid undoing the effects of the treatment it is also better not to consume any alcohol or recreational drug

• Energetic changes in the body will continue for some time after the needles have been removed so it is preferable to avoid any strenuous activity immediately after treatment.

Depending on the type of treatment you have received, you may feel very relaxed and calm or you may feel revitalized and more clear-headed. It is normal to feel like resting after a treatment and occasionally your symptoms may flare for a short time before settling. Generally the effects of the treatment will be more obvious the following day

Acupuncture treatments under ACC claims are covered for 12 treatments over 12 weeks since your first treatment with any practitioner under the same claim.

It is important to note that ACC will only cover the treatment of a specific injury. You should not expect your practitioner to treat conditions other than your injury under ACC.

The treatment time may vary depending on the treatment type you select under our booking system.

Typically, your first appointment may last for close to an hour but subsequent visits may only take 30 or 45 minutes.

Most acupuncture practitioners will ask you to complete an information sheet on your first visit. The questions asked will cover basic information such as your name, address and age, the reason for your visit and how long the condition has been present. They will also ask about any medication you may be taking and whether or not you have had any surgery, even if it is not specifically related to the reason for your visit. 

You should also advise the practitioner of any of the following conditions:

• Pregnancy

• Bleeding disorders

• Diabetes

• Any form of cancer

• Hepatitis

• HIV/Aids

• Epilepsy or seizures

• Skin infections

• Heart conditions - especially if you have had a pacemaker inserted.

Acupuncture is just one aspect of Chinese Medicine treatment. A typical treatment may also include the use of moxibustion (the burning of a mugwort herb close to acupuncture points or on the needles), gua sha (scraping of the skin to cause slight redness), or cupping (the application of vacuum cups to the skin, most commonly used on the back). We may also recommend and give you Chinese herbs to take. These can be prescribed as dry herbs which are to be boiled with water or as fine powders.